Knights of Light (The Conjurors Series Book 2)

by Kristen Pham

  “I like the male,” she heard him murmur to Midnight, who was fighting a smile.

  “His name is Henry,” Midnight replied.

  “Of course, the male, Henry. Seems robust,” he said.

  Al, from the Stewardship Guild, had a round belly and red hair. He was friendlier than Skye. “Well aren’t you two cute as buttons, if you don’t mind my saying so. It’ll be nice to have some young faces around here to cheer us all up.”

  “Thank you, sir,” Valerie said.

  “Sir, now isn’t that sweet as pie. But you can call me plain old Al. After all, someday hopefully you’ll be one of us! Henry, too, if he rises to the top of whatever guild he chooses.”

  “As he no doubt will,” Skye said, nodding approvingly. Skye’s enthusiasm for Henry puzzled her. Her brother was grinning a little, clearly up to something. She opened her mind to him and saw that he was sending waves of happiness in Skye’s direction whenever they made eye contact.

  “Trying a little operant conditioning,” he muttered. “Something they told me about at the Empathy Collective.”

  “I don’t know what that is but cut it out,” she said. He shot her an annoyed look but stopped.

  Calibro of the Justice Guild came last. She wasn’t more than ten years old with long, curly golden hair and light brown eyes. Valerie couldn’t hide her surprise.

  She is a prodigy, the youngest Grand Master in the history of the Justice Guild. But don’t underestimate her.

  “Welcome, Valerie and Henry,” Calibro said in a high, sweet voice. She nodded at them coolly.

  Before they could have any further discussion, Chern tripped and fell in the pool. He flailed around, trying to get out, but his long robes were weighing him down. Without a second thought, Valerie jumped in and helped him to the edge.

  “You are a special girl, indeed,” he said, spluttering a little as he climbed out awkwardly. “S-so sorry to get you wet.”

  “Please don’t worry about that. Are you okay?”

  “Yes, please let’s not dwell,” he said, turning beet red.

  Luckily Gabriel swam up. He seemed subdued compared to the last time Valerie had seen him, and he was rubbing his temples as he swam. But as soon as he surfaced, he was all business and confidence.

  “There isn’t much to share with you,” he said.

  He always starts that way. Azra explained in her mind. Then, to the group as a whole, she continued. Can you tell us of one called Reaper?

  “Reaper has the ability to lead the Fractus to Earth before the year is done. That is clear,” Gabriel said.

  Valerie glanced around at the Council members, but all of their faces were equal masks of shock.

  “But it isn’t too late to stop him,” Midnight said, sounding shaken.

  “Only an extreme measure can stop him now. You know the step that must be taken. If it isn’t, war will follow.”

  What else can you tell us? Do you have any clues as to who Reaper is? Or who his agent among the Guild Masters could be?

  “Yes, there is one thing—” but before Gabriel could continue, he put his hand to his head and winced. He started to speak again and then grunted with effort. “I am mistaken. There is no more to tell.”

  Henry gently probed Gabriel’s mind, trying to see what was blocking him from speaking. But it was like a sealed box, and even with their combined magic they could sense nothing.

  Gabriel’s face relaxed, and he gave Henry a wry smile. “That is a nice try, young man, but no one may see into the mind of an Illyrian. Even one as powerful as you.”

  “You were about to say something important,” Calibro said with a trace of impatience.

  “Yes, yes, about this Reaper fellow,” Chern said eagerly. Spit flew from his mouth in his excitement.

  “I have no more to say,” Gabriel said.

  “Hey, now, you must—” Al began, but Gabriel vanished beneath the surface of the water without another word.

  “That was singularly unhelpful,” Skye said with more than a touch of annoyance.

  Not necessarily. I noticed that Gabriel referred to Reaper as a “he.” It is a beginning.

  “I think what’s clear is that it’s time for the Excision,” Midnight said.

  “What’s that?” Valerie asked.

  “When we created the Globe and left the link to Earth, we always knew that a time might come when we had to shut down all movement between the worlds completely for the safety of the humans. If I activate the spell that is in place for this purpose, no one can cross between planets ever again—in either direction.”

  That is a drastic measure, and one we cannot take lightly.

  “What would happen to kids like me or Henry or Thai? I would have died if you hadn’t brought me here.”

  “Many more will die if we don’t stop the Fractus now, before they make it to Earth. You heard Gabriel. Reaper already has the means,” Midnight’s violet eyes flashed with her passion.

  “I agree with the Guardian,” Skye said.

  “Are we calling for a vote?” Al asked.

  Not yet. We need to take a breath, consider, and reconvene.

  “Very well,” Midnight agreed, cooling somewhat. “But I see no other way. We must say goodbye to Earth at last.”

  Chapter 19

  Valerie was shaky as she and Henry walked out of the Capitol building with Midnight.

  “What if Thai and Tan don’t make it to the Globe in time?” she asked, almost hysterical. And beneath that was the guilty knowledge that the far more serious problem was the other children who would suffer or even die from their magic. But she could only focus on Thai.

  “We won’t let that happen,” Midnight promised, her violet eyes serious.

  Valerie forced herself to calm down. “Besides Thai, I know that it isn’t right. Maybe someday we can find a way to make things more open between Earth and the Globe. But that can never happen with this Excision thing.”

  “I always thought somehow, someway I’d get to hug my dad again,” Henry said.

  “Henry, I’m more sorry than you can imagine,” Midnight said. “But given your past, if the Fractus make it to Earth, he could be a target. His life might be in danger.”

  “Would Henry even be able to visit him after the Excision?” Valerie asked, afraid of the answer. Midnight shook her head.

  “He’d be lost without me. That can’t happen,” Henry said, and confidence and certainty poured through their bond. She was never happier that she had her brother, her ally, at her side.

  “Our best chance is to find Reaper and stop him,” Midnight said with vehemence. “If the Fractus can be defeated before making it to Earth, the Excision won’t be necessary.”

  Her resolve to find the spy and end the Fractus’s threat turned to steel, reminding her of how alike she and Henry could be. She turned to her brother. “Did you sense anything about who the spy on the Council could be?”

  “No. They’ve all been trained to keep their minds closed, I think. And they were all strong enough to keep me out.”

  “Even Chern?” Valerie asked with a little laugh.

  “Well, he slipped up a little. He was really agitated about falling into the pool in front of everyone. I was sorry for him.”

  “Blocking your mind against Conjurors with psychic powers is a basic part of an apprenticeship at most guilds,” Midnight explained. “It doesn’t surprise me that the members of the Council chose to block their thoughts. They must suspect that one among them is the spy.”

  “If you and Azra can’t figure out who can’t be trusted, I don’t know how Henry or I will,” Valerie said, her earlier confidence slipping.

  “We’ve known the Grand Masters for too long. And you both see things that others miss. Don’t underestimate your powers of deduction,” Midnight said, her hand briefly squeezing Valerie’s shoulder.

  Valerie was surprised and comforted by the sudden contact. She noticed for the first time that they had walked to the outskirts of Silva, to
a little house near the edge of the woods.

  “Is this your place?” Henry asked Midnight.

  Midnight nodded. The house might be cozy if it was lit up from the inside. But in the dark, it seemed lonely. No wonder Midnight was happy for the company.

  Midnight unlocked the door. “I want you both to treat this as your home. Explore any rooms you like, enjoy the food in the kitchen, and leave me a note if there is anything missing that you would like. I made up the bedroom down the hall for you.”

  Valerie stepped inside and the house immediately lit up, as if it recognized that someone was inside. The decorations were simple and homey, very different from the quiet dignity of Midnight’s office. She could imagine conversations by the fireplace and evenings reading in the window seat that looked out over the forest.

  “I love it,” Valerie said quietly, and Midnight beamed. She had never seen such a happy expression cross the Grand Master’s face before.

  “I’m so glad,” Midnight said.

  “Thank you,” Henry said formally.

  Midnight’s eyes were softer than Valerie ever imagined they could be. “Welcome home.”

  Valerie and Henry slept in a quiet little room with two twin beds. There were delicate lace curtains on the windows, and the walls were painted in a mosaic of bright patterns. Who had lived in the room before her? She hoped that Midnight would share more about her past when she was ready. The Grand Master’s eyes sometimes flickered with deep pain, and Valerie knew that sharing a burden like that with others could be harder than carrying it alone.

  Henry and Valerie’s first night was uneventful, and Valerie found herself more at ease now that her brother was closer to her, where she could watch over him. It reminded her of when they had camped in neighboring tents on Earth.

  The next morning, Midnight was gone, but she left a note telling where she would be for the day, along with a breakfast of pancakes.

  “Earth food,” Henry groaned, digging into his stack.

  Valerie agreed with a nod, her mouth full. She swallowed. “I could get used to this.”

  “We should stop by the dorm and let everyone know how we’re doing,” Henry said.

  “Let Kanti know, you mean,” Valerie said, but Henry didn’t respond.

  Within the hour, they left a note for Midnight and took off for the Imaginary Friends dorm. Cyrus was waiting for them, practically bouncing on the balls of his feet in anticipation.

  “What is it?” she asked when they reached the doors at the entrance.

  “I got a message from Leo. He wants to meet tonight!”

  The trickle of Henry’s emotions that had been open all day suddenly slammed shut. Valerie gave Cyrus a nudge and then changed the subject. But throughout dinner, her excitement rose. Something extraordinary was about to happen. As of tonight she might have a dad.

  “He might not be your dad, you know. Don’t get your hopes up too high,” Henry said to her before she and Cyrus left for the Lake of Knowledge. She nodded and then gave him a quick hug before leaving. She didn’t bother to ask him if he wanted to come.

  It was a quiet walk as Valerie struggled to rein in her excitement. They reached the lake, which was at its most beautiful at night when the billions of stars above the Globe were reflected on the surface. Cyrus ran his fingers through the water, sending a little beam of light into the dark liquid.

  A few bubbles rose, followed by Leo. He looked exactly the same as when she had seen him last time, except wetter. He had bushy gray eyebrows that matched his gray eyes. In them was the kindness she remembered.

  “I was so happy to receive your message,” he said, shaking first Cyrus’s, then Valerie’s hands. “I must confess, it is hard to be so disconnected from the rest of the world.”

  “Don’t they let you visit the surface, like Gabriel?” she asked.

  “They try to keep you underwater as much as possible for the first few centuries. It’s supposed to help you adjust. But I miss the sunlight. I am so grateful for your gift,” he added, turning to Cyrus. He had brought the little lion made of light that Cyrus had created for him.

  “Let me recharge it for you while you’re here,” Cyrus said. He held it for a moment and it glowed brightly. “You can also put it in the sun for a couple hours. But this should last you another year.”

  “Thank you, son. But surely this isn’t why you asked me here.”

  Cyrus turned to Valerie, clearly expecting her to take it from here. “Well, you see, um…recently I went to Ephesus. I received this prophecy…about my father.”

  Leo nodded, urging her to continue.

  “I’ve always thought he was dead, but an Oracle told me he was alive,” she said in a rush. “And that I know him already, and I thought, well, Cyrus thought, actually, that maybe—”

  “Oh for goodness’ sake. Could you be Valerie’s dad? Do you have any missing kids that you don’t know about?” Cyrus interrupted bluntly. Valerie anxiously watched Leo’s reaction.

  Leo passed a hand over his face. When he finally looked up at them, she saw the infinite grief in his eyes. “If only that could be. But no, my children are both dead.”

  “But how can you be sure? What if they lived, and it’s Valerie and her brother?” Cyrus pushed.

  “I saw my wife and daughters die before my eyes. And I buried them with my own hands. There could be no mistake.”

  Silence engulfed them all. Somehow any words of regret seemed hollow in the face of such an immense loss. Instead, Valerie stepped into the water and hugged Leo. He seemed surprised at first, but then hugged her back.

  “I’m sorry we wasted your time, man,” Cyrus said, his voice sounding a little rough, like he was fighting back tears of his own.

  “Seeing you children is the best part of my year. This isn’t a waste of time. I will ask the Akashic Records about who your father might be, but it may take years to find an answer. Time moves differently in Illyria.”

  “Thank you, Leo. Even if it’s decades, I’d like to know him,” Valerie said softly.

  He nodded. “I’m sure he’d give anything to hold you again. I know I would if you were my little girl.”

  Suddenly his attention was drawn to the sword strapped to Valerie’s side, which glittered in the starlight.

  “Where did you get that?” he asked, his voice suddenly sharp.

  “Have you seen it before? It’s kind of a long story how I wound up with it,” she said, confused at his interest.

  “I have time. Please start at the beginning,” he said. So she told him about her trip from Earth to the Globe, and how she found it in the launch chamber inside the Great Pyramid before she was rocketed through space. She later learned that the sword belonged to a Master in the Guardians of the Boundary Guild named Adelita.

  “That part I know. I was the one who gave it to her,” Leo said. “But I can’t imagine how it ended up on Earth, of all places.”

  She was stunned. “You knew her? What can you tell me?”

  He sighed deeply, clearly about to wade into waters he would rather leave untouched. “Before I joined the Illyrians, I was the Grand Master of the Weapons Guild. Your sword, Pathos, was passed down from Grand Master to Grand Master. It is very old, and has been studied by many in the Guild to see how so much power had been woven into a weapon. As Grand Master, the sword was mine to use—and give away if I saw fit.”

  “Why would you ever give it away?” Cyrus asked.

  “Adelita and I partnered to study which weapons would be most effective against the Fractus, maybe even creating a new one that could prevent them from mentally visiting Earth. The Fractus found out—I don’t know how. They sent a group of men made of rock to attack me. They would have killed me if Adelita hadn’t shown up and saved my life. After that, I decided that Pathos should belong to her.”

  “That’s a pretty nice thank-you gift,” Cyrus quipped. Valerie gave him a quick shake of her head so that he’d tone it down, and he cleared his throat. “Sorry, go on.”


  “Maybe I should have kept it. Maybe if I had Pathos, I would have been able to protect my family when…” he swallowed, struggling to keep his emotions in check. “When Zunya came with more of the rock men, I wasn’t prepared. He robbed us all of our magic, and my wife and daughters were crushed by his men. They made me watch, but didn’t kill me.”

  “Why would they let you live?” she said, her hands clenched in fists at her sides to contain her rage.

  “I only found out later. I was visited by a man who called himself Reaper. He said that if I would lend my skills to the Fractus, that he had a way to bring my family back from the grave. Claimed he knew of a vivicus who would soon be coming to the Globe who he would force to do the deed. But he needed my help to get to her first.”

  Valerie took a step backward. Cyrus gripped her hand. “He must have meant you,” he said, squeezing her fingers so tightly that they stung.

  Leo’s eyes widened. “You’re a vivicus? I thought your power was fighting.”

  She shifted uncomfortably. “Yes, it’s true. But I can’t bring people back from the dead, I don’t think.”

  “It’d probably kill her,” Cyrus added. “Just saving lives completely wipes her out.”

  Leo nodded. “I had also never heard of a vivicus bringing someone back from the dead. But even if it were true, I knew my family would never want me to make a deal with such a man to save them. I have to believe that was the right decision, and wherever they are now, they’re happy.” But there was no peace in his eyes. Valerie guessed that he questioned his decision every day.

  “That’s the deed that got you into Illyria, isn’t it?” Valerie asked quietly, and he nodded. “That is a true sacrifice. Thank you, Leo. It’s possible that if you helped him, Henry and I would both be in the Black Castle doing who knows what for him.”

  “Though I am not your father, I feel a kinship with you both. I hope we can see each other again.”

  It was a quiet walk back to Midnight’s—and now Valerie’s—house that night. When she saw Henry, she shook her head at the question in his eyes and went to their room. More than ever, she wished that Thai were by her side. But when she checked on him, he was resting. She was on her own to wrestle with her disappointment.